Wescot-Williams Chairs 3rd International Gender Equality Conference in Accra, Urges Global Action

Sint Maarten's President of Parliament Leads Global Gender Equality Dialogue in Ghana

Sarah A. Wescot-Williams, the esteemed President of the Parliament of Sint Maarten, took on a pivotal role as the Chair of the 3rd International Conference on Gender Equality (ICGE 2025), held in Accra, Ghana, from November 20 to 22, 2025. During the landmark event, she delivered a compelling address, calling for urgent global action to accelerate gender equality in an increasingly digitalized world.

The conference, hosted at the University of Ghana, Legon, brought together over 850 in-person delegates from 39 African countries and more than 2,000 virtual participants, including policymakers, academics, development partners, private sector leaders, and gender advocates. Organized by the I Believe Global Organization, the ICGE 2025 served as a strategic regional response to the 69th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) and marked the 30th anniversary of the historic 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

Key Themes and Calls to Action

Under the theme 'Charting the Next Frontier for Gender Equality in Developing Economies', Wescot-Williams underscored the critical need for renewed commitment to gender equity. She opened her address by highlighting Sint Maarten's unique history, its deep African heritage, and its enduring commitment to unity, emphasizing the significance of advancing gender equality on the African continent. She reminded delegates that three decades after the Beijing Declaration, its promise remains unfulfilled, stating, 'Every barrier to women and girls' equality anywhere becomes a threat to all of us, everywhere.'

Addressing the Digital Divide and Beijing+30 Agenda

A significant portion of Wescot-Williams' speech focused on the digital revolution, acknowledging that while technology holds the potential to accelerate equality, it can also exacerbate existing disparities. She pointed out that women often have less access to mobile internet, girls are underrepresented in STEM fields, and online harassment continues to silence women's voices. 'The digital divide is not only about access; it is about power, who designs technology, who controls data, and who benefits from innovation,' she asserted.

She welcomed the Beijing+30 Action Agenda, highlighting its priorities, which include:

• Closing the digital divide
• Eliminating violence against women and girls
• Advancing economic opportunity
• Promoting climate justice
• Increasing participation in decision-making

However, she cautioned that 'commitments remain rhetorical' without adequate financing and gender-responsive data.

A Movement for Change

In her concluding remarks, Wescot-Williams urged attendees to perceive ICGE 2025 not merely as an event, but as a catalyst for a broader movement. She passionately declared, 'Equality is the destination. Technology is the vehicle. And our responsibility begins now.' Her leadership at the conference amplified the Caribbean's voice on urgent global issues, including climate justice, digital inequality, care economy reform, rising violence, and women's leadership. As the first Prime Minister of Sint Maarten and a long-standing President of Parliament, Wescot-Williams is recognized for her contributions to constitutional reform, women's leadership, and nation-building.